Tuesday, February 21, 2017

NINA SIMONE - SINGS ELLINGTONNina sings Ellington – but as always, she makes whatever she
sings all her own! The album's a bit straighter than later efforts – with large
backings by Stu Phillips that also feature vocals by the Malcolm Dodds Singers
– but Nina also conceived the whole thing herself, as an effort to bring a new
level of spiritualism to Ellington's work. The result is a masterpiece – proof
that even in her early years, Nina could completely transform anything she laid
her hands on – and unlock a soulful depth that even the original recordings
might have missed. Titles include "I Got It Bad",
"Solitude", "The Gal From Joe's", "It Don't Mean A
Thing", and "I Like The Sunrise". ~ Dusty Groove

MARK
MASTERS – BLUE SKLYLIGHT

Arranger and bandleader
Mark Masters reimagines the music of iconic jazz composers Charles Mingus and
Gerry Mulligan on Blue Skylight featuring the Mark Masters Ensemble with
veteran players Putter Smith, Gary Foster and Gene Cipriano. Both Mulligan and
Mingus would no doubt approve of the reimaginings that Masters has made of
their compositions. The word "arrangements" doesn't quite do justice
to Masters' approach; these eleven pieces are vivid acts of recomposition, each
vividly rendered and finely tailored to fit the gifted and distinctive players
of the Mark Masters Ensemble. "Mark Masters is an accomplished arranger
who comes up with hip, unusual ideas for jazz concerts and recordings." -
Thomas Conrad, JazzTimes / / "Masters is leading the charge as one of the
great arrangers of our time." - Brent Black, CriticalJazz.com.

KEITH
OXMAN – EAST OF THE VILLAGE

Tenor
saxophonist Keith Oxman leads a burning organ trio on his 9th Capri
release. The recording features Oxman and his Denver-based trio with
drummer Todd Reid and Hammond B3 player Jeff Jenkins on a set of little-known
standards and newly-penned originals. As carefree and finger-snapping as this
music may be, it wasn't achieved without its share of struggle. The trio's
first attempt at recording was marred by equipment mishaps and had to be
scrapped. When they reconvened last April, less than a month had passed since
the passing of Oxman's mother, which almost precipitated another cancellation.
"My father encouraged me to proceed with it," Oxman recalls. "I
was barely in a frame of mind to play, but something happened when we got
together. Six out of ten of those tracks are first takes." " If
anyone still needs convincing that outstanding jazz players live and work in
places other than on the East and West Coasts, they should check out
Denver-based Keith OxmanŠ an excellent improviser with a fine sound, agile
technique and sure harmonic sense. He also exhibits a thorough knowledge of the
hard bop language and can swing like crazy." - David Franklin, JazzTimes